Politics. I’m sure there must be people who like that word, but I am certainly not one of them. I have heard people joke that, “the word ‘politics’ is derived from the word ‘poly,’ meaning ‘many,’ and the word ‘ticks,’ meaning ‘blood sucking parasites.’” While funny, it really can seem sometimes that our current political scene is literally sucking the lifeblood out of us. I know from both logic and experience that there are some good politicians out there, but many of us are so disillusioned with the things we see and hear in the media that the mere mention of politics tends to elicit an internal groan of despair.
Well, here we are in an election year, and an emotional one at that. The issues at hand are critical topics that spark passionate responses on both sides. Think about how your heart reacts (emotionally and perhaps even physically) to the following words: abortion or Planned Parenthood, terrorism or ISIS, Supreme Court nominees, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, gun control, Obamacare, Black Lives Matter, Israel, Common Core, gender identity, GMO’s, and so on. I’ll stop there in the interest of our collective blood pressure.
The Bible exhorts us not to be anxious, but to have peace, both in our own hearts, as well as with others. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Also, 2 Thessalonians 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. “ Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy,” and Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
How on earth do we have peace, or live in peace with others, when we have so many issues that divide us?! Does this mean we never object or take a stand for our views? Not at all! Unfortunately, I believe many Christians, whether out of fear of offending others or fear of persecution from others, have quietly stepped away from controversial issues. I firmly believe this is not the right approach! It is not working! In the absence of light, darkness prevails. Jesus called his disciples the light of the world and told them to let their light shine (Matthew 5:14, 16). There must be opposition to evil. Ephesians 5:11 instructs, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Perhaps Christians have become passive in an effort to avoid the newly-popular accusation that they are haters. This term is particularly distasteful to believers because our own personal experiences with God testify only to love and mercy and grace. Maybe people are being intimidated into silence because they fear that, somehow by speaking up, they are giving God a bad name. Of course, in some of the more extreme cases, this is true: while many Christians are passive, there is also a separate but vocal contingent for whom the pendulum has swung hard the other way. In their zeal to defend their views, they have become inflammatory and offensive to the world. This has never been an effective tool for winning people to Christ, or even to one’s side of a particular issue. Sometimes, the challenge lies more in our presentation than in our position.
For those of us who tend to recoil at the word, “hate,” especially in the context of Christianity, allow me to suggest a different angle. The truth is that the Bible tells us that there is both “a time to love and a time to hate.” (Ecclesiastes 3:8) Psalms 97:10 says, “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” In fact, Proverbs 6:16-19 even gives a list of six things that God hates! That seems antithetical to how we view God, doesn’t it? I mean even that phrase, “God hates,” sounds cacophonous to us--discordant, contradictory. How can God hate when “God is love?” (1 John 4:8) Because what He hates is what keeps Him from what He loves. Sin separates us from God. Therefore, if we truly love and are committed to Him, we should hate what He hates and love what He loves. That means hating sin and loving people.
This can be a difficult proposition, living in the world we do--a world that glamorizes sin and demonizes people who stand in opposition to it. Everywhere, we are bombarded with images and messages that run contrary to God’s desires for us. We are daily challenged to accept God’s viewpoint of sin over the world’s--or even over our own emotions. We may have friends who profess to love Jesus, but who also choose their own definitions of sin, rather than to embrace His. Some see God’s ways as old-fashioned or outdated. But “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Psalm 119:160 declares, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” It is true that God’s ways are not always socially popular and, in more ways than one, He is not politically correct. But “let God be true but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4) Acknowledging God as our Creator should necessitate a submission to His authority in our lives and an acceptance of His ways as being higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:9) Personally, I have found great relief in this fact, as it removes the mental struggle inherent in decision-making. I don’t have to decide on my own; if God says it’s sin, then it’s sin.
Some issues, of course, are more cut and dry than others. The political topics of the day vary widely and some things are easier to discern God’s will on than others. Abortion, sexual sin, and our position in relation to Israel most readily come to mind. Other issues are less obvious, though some can be inferred. For example, the issue of who is appointed to the Supreme Court could have enormous consequences on the future legislation of policies that violate or restrict believers’ freedom to speak, do business, or worship according to the will of God.
So, how does this all tie in to my original point regarding peace? And how can we marry the concepts of having peace and yet still standing firm on God’s principles despite our cultures attempts to eradicate them? This is a challenge I have yet to master, for sure. People who know me would say that I tend to be more active and vocal than passive and silent. I pray that my heart and my words are reflective of Jesus, but I am certainly a work in progress! I believe that, as with any other challenge to our emotions, the answer lies in God’s encouragement to “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10) We need to trust that God is still in control, that He still loves us, and that, even if we don’t see it, He still has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Our peace depends upon our trust.
In the meantime, we are also to do our part. Psalms 37:3 says to, “Trust in the LORD and do good.” We still have a responsibility to stand firm on God’s Word, to defend His precepts and to proclaim His truth, even when it’s not popular. Again, it is critical that we steward that responsibility appropriately and strive to build bridges rather than walls. We should always endeavor to “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15) Both are important--speaking the truth, and doing so in love. The apostle Paul said some very difficult things to his readers, but he did so because of His love for God and His desire for people to know Him. We are commanded by our loving Lord and Savior to not only be disciples, but to also make disciples. (Matthew 28:19).
So, as we enter into this last month before our state and national elections, I pray that we all earnestly seek God and His will for our country--that we make choices based on His ways, not our own and certainly not our world’s. If we truly believe in the redemptive power of God, we should trust that putting Him first will always bring good fruit. Several years ago, God used Proverbs 3:5-6 to help guide my heart and to bring me peace in a difficult situation (click here to a link to that story). Those verses say, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Trusting Him, though not always easy, is always right. Dwelling in His promises brings the peace we want, and that He wants for us.
Be bold and be blessed!
Barbara
